The free version is slightly crippled in terms of the size of the board you can design but is perfectly fine for most hobbyist use. In fact, it's the hobbyist industry standard and there are a wealth of resources from instructions to example parts and boards. (For example most SparkFun open hardware boards come with EagleCAD layout and schematics.)

Next scheduled workshop

Following a very successful and popular Eagle CAD workshop back in June 2009, we'll be having some in December 2010.

Proposed:

. Getting started with EagleCAD

. Getting Stuff Done with EagleCAD and Not Punching Out the Monitor

. Tape Out, DFM, and PCB manufacture.

Potential Topics

We can cover most of the below in 3 nights. Feel free to add topics, then let's use the talk page to vote for what we want most to cover.

What is EAGLE, 15 minute refresher on making a schematic and laying out a board.

Expanding into new topics

Making custom devices and libraries

How to make the pin outs and footprints from a data sheet, possibly recycling someone else's similar part.

How to label the part correctly and control what layers show on the board view (this can be confusing!)

List of EagleCAD "gotchas"

I promised I would post my list of "gotchas;" hope this helps avoid some irritation! Jtfoote 23:38, 27 April 2009 (PDT)

IF BOARD AND SCHEMATIC GET OUT OF SYNC, YOU ARE SCREWED. This can happen if updates on the schematic don't make it to the board. To avoid this, always keep board file open when editing schematic, and vice versa! Use "rip up" instead of "delete" on the board. DRC will tell you when you are not in sync, otherwise you won't know. Use it often, and save often.

"Cut" (scissor icon) is really "copy to paste buffer" and only works on groups! Use "copy" for single items. In V5, use shift-right-click or menu item to copy/move groups.

Pay attention to messages in the status bar, they are often helpful. For example when trying to select things on top of each other, clicking will cycle through each and the status bar will tell you how to select the one you want.

Gold Phoenix: cheapest, longer turn-around (sent from China), fine quality, no charge for "panelization," can submit multiple boards for one run. SparkFun uses them; so could we, if we want to combine orders. They don't have web upload; you email your gerbers to some dude, but it worked great for me.

Sierra Proto Express: I found this best combination of price/turn around time for small orders and prototypes, and they're local (Sunnyvale). Silkscreen was a little smeary if that bugs you; still perfectly readable.

Advanced Circuits 4pcb.com (same as 33each.com and others) Good quality, slick marketing, more expensive than they seem (not-well-advertised setup charges and minimums). Avoid for small runs, but definitely use their free gerber file check site: http://www.freedfm.com/